"The Jefferson Parish School Board and the district's administration have not agreed, tentatively or otherwise, to a collective bargaining agreement," the district said in a statement sent shortly after 2 p.m. "The Jefferson Federation of Teachers has acted unilaterally in its presentation of a draft to its members. The draft presented does not represent the views of the school district's administration or the Jefferson Parish School Board."

Union president Meladie Munch, however, insisted late Tuesday that the contract is a result of an agreement reached between the union and the district's negotiating team. She plans to present the agreement to teachers at 6:30 p.m. at 3515 North I-10 Service Road in Metairie.

"Our understanding has always been this is what we've all agreed to," Munch said. "The language in the contract is language that we had drawn up together so it was both sides that wrote it."

The union and the district have been in contract negotiations since
last June, when the board decided not renew the federation's three-year collective
bargaining agreement, saying it was in direct conflict with the state's
new education reforms and Jefferson's reorganization plan and new
student-centered philosophy. If ratified by teachers at Tuesday's
meeting, the union must then bring the contract before the board for
approval.

Meladie Munch

Munch said that during negotiations in March, she had told the district that the union would be looking to present a contract to teachers on March 26 before they went into testing and spring break. She said that if there were any problems, they should contact her before that date, but said she had not heard anything.

"I had spoken with the district's team numerous times and asked if there was any additional concerns that needed to be addressed. That didn't happen, so we're moving forward," she said.

At committee meetings Monday night, Mary Garton, the superintendent's Chief of Staff and spokesperson for the district's negotiating team, simply said that the contract being presented to teachers on Tuesday represented "where we are now in negotiations." Garton added that Munch's claim that the district had not voiced any concerns about the current contract being presented is untrue.

"I had a telephone conversation with Meladie about our areas of concern on Tuesday March 19, and on Monday, March 25," Garton said. "We haven't yet agreed to anything. We've been in conversation for months and the conversations are continuing."

Board member Mark Jacobs said negotiations had been on the right track until now, and the board doesn't want to see anything derailed.

"I think this is just a big distraction," he said. "I'm staying focused and hoping teachers stay focused on what's important."

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